Life-saving apparatus.



No. 652,352. Patented June 26, i900. P. P. DOELL.

LIFE SAVING APPARATUS,

(Application filed Nov. 4, 1898..)

(No Model.)

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Parent tries.

PETER P. DOELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LlFE SAVlNG APPARATUS.

SPECiFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 652,352, dated June 26,1900. Application filed November 4, 1899. Serial No.735,-798. (No model.)

To aZZ w/w'nt it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, PETER P. DOELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Saving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to life-saving apparatus designed especially for the use of firemen in rescuing persons from burning buildings.

The object of the invention is to provide a harness device which may be readilyseeured to the body of a fireman in position to serve as a carrier or support for rescued persons, enabling the fireman to render aid which would not be in his power to give if unprovided with the improvement.

The construction of the apparatus Will be fully described hereinafterin connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and its novel fea tures will be defined in the appended claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a life-saving harness embodying the invention, and Figs. 2 and 3 illustrate modified forms of fastening devices.

The reference-numeral l designates a belt adapted to be secured around the firemans waist. This belt is of greater width in front than at its rear portion, and the widened front portion 2 is padded to protect the abdomen from undue pressure and injury.

3 and 4 designate two crossed bands or straps secured firmly together at their crossing-point 5. The front ends of these bands are detachably secured to the front of the belt by any suitable fastenings 6.

The straps or bands 3 and 4 are provided with keepers or guides '7, through which the rear portion of the belt passes, and to each of the lower ends 8 of said straps, which depend below the belt 1, is secured a stirrup f) of any preferred construction.

The ends 10 and 11 of the belt 1 are secured together by a buckle 12 or any other suitable detachable fastening device.

13 designates a safety-strap secured per-' manently at one end to one of the crossed straps 3 and after passing around in rear of the straps 3 and 4 is detachably secured to the strap 4 by any suitable fastening 14.

When the apparatus as thus described is worn bya fireman, the stirrups are suspended behind the wearer, and the safety-strap 13 is disconnected from the strap 4. The person to be rescued inserts his feet in the stirrups, and the safety-strap 13 is passed around his back and then secured to the strap 4. Thus the person is supported upon the firemans back in a safe position and in such a manner as to place the strain upon the shoulders of the rescuer.

In Fig. 2 I show a hasp device comprising a loop 15, secured to one end of the belt and bent to pass through the buckle and engage the tongue thereof to securely hold the latter.

In Fig. 3 is shown a fastening for the end of the safety-strap 13, consisting of a loop adapted to be engaged by a twisted wire catch 16.

I claim- A life-saving apparatus, comprising a waist belt, padded at its front side; crossed straps or bands adapted to be secured detachably to the front of the belt; and having depend ing rear ends provided with stirrups; keepers for guiding the straps; and a safety-strap secured permanently to one of the crossed straps, and means for detachably securing the other end of said safety-strap to the other crossed strap.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PETER P. DOELL.

Witnesses CARL WITTMANN, HERMAN VVITTMANN. 

